Jimmie Ray Irwin Sr., 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, surrounded by family and loved ones at his home in Winslow. Jim was born April 16, 1936, in Dougherty, Okla. When he was young he moved west with his father, mother, two brothers and baby sister, eventually attending high school and graduating in Winslow. He played high school football, which he enjoyed very much, but as he got older he nursed a “football knee” from an injury he sustained while playing. Jim met his lifelong sweetheart, Rosalie Shumway, in Holbrook. He often told stories about working at the corner service station while Rosalie waited tables at the restaurant across the street. Jim was a habitual flirt with the waitresses, but Rosalie, with her bright red hair matching Jim’s, quickly caught his fancy. One day while Rosalie waited on him, Jim teasingly tugged on her apron strings, which inadvertently came untied. As her apron fell, Rosalie’s tips loudly spilled across the floor of the restaurant. Trying to avoid embarrassment, Jim joked about slipping out the back door and leaving Rosalie to clean up the mess. Despite the rocky start, Jim and Rosalie were soon dating and engaged. They married on June 12, 1956. He eventually went to work for the Santa Fe railroad, working many years and eventually retiring from BNSF. Together, Jim and Rosalie lived in Winslow, Flagstaff and eventually Woodruff, raising and intensely loving their eight children: Kathy (Warren) Dobbins, Nina (Louie) Ortiz, Jimmie Irwin Jr., Benjamin (Miki) Irwin, Samuel Irwin, Belle (David) Dalton, Joshua Irwin and David (April) Irwin. They also cared for Rosalie’s youngest brother, Gerry. In their later years, Jim and Rosalie moved from Woodruff to return to Winslow, where Jim was preceded into Heaven by his sweetheart in December 2011. Jim loved to garden and raise livestock. He was a cowboy at heart, and was involved in ranching until the day he passed. Survivors include his eight children and their spouses; 26 grandchildren (nine with spouses); 24 great-grandchildren (with several on the way); many nieces and nephews; and numerous others whom he dearly loved, and who called him Dad or Grandpa. He is happily reuniting in Heaven with his loving wife, Rosalie; his father, Sherman Ivette Irwin; his mother, Hester Lorene Barker; his brothers, Charlie Irwin and Billie Irwin; and his infant sister, Patricia Irwin. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1501 N. Kinsley Ave. in Winslow. A service celebrating Jim’s life will take place afterward at 10 a.m. A short graveside gathering will take place at 2 p.m. that day at the Woodruff Cemetery. Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow was in charge of the arrangements.
